Your Single Parenting

Opportunity to help: Grand reopening of Deborah’s House

Issa M. Mas — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 11:37:27 +0000

Arthur Foulkes The Tribune-Star

TERRE HAUTE — Joy at the opportunity to help people in need – that’s what Muriel Ryan, Theressa Bynum and other organizers and supporters of Deborah’s House showed Monday afternoon.

Ryan, Bynum and others welcomed the news media and other members of the community to the grand reopening of Deborah’s House, a local transitional residence for homeless single mothers and their children.

Ellen James Martin: Should single moms sell the empty nest?

Issa M. Mas — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 18:25:51 +0000

By Ellen James Martin
Smart Moves

Posted: 08/29/2010 12:00:00 AM PDT

Are you a midlife woman with college-age children who’s recently become divorced or widowed? Would you like to reinvent your life but are confused about how the family home fits in with your plans?

If so, you have lots of company in your conundrum, including many single women also living alone in the homes where they raised their kids, says Connie Cusick, a life coach who counts many such women among her clients.

“A great many women hold onto the big family house because it feels safe. But, ultimately, downsizing helps them redefine and expand their lives in positive ways,” Cusick says.

Mojo Hopes To Work Its Magic By Helping Single Moms

Issa M. Mas — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 03:18:25 +0000

Boston Business Journal – by Mary Moore

Many for-profit companies today are weaving social responsibility into their business plans, but Mojo: Moms and Jobs has based its entire business model on the concept.

Based in an 8,000-square-foot warehouse in Lowell, Mojo opened its doors last January with a goal in the next year of employing up to 40 people — single mothers all — to sew and embroider jackets, vests, scarves and other apparel for corporate clients and consumers.

La Bella Baskets Delivers “Basket of Hope” to Single Mothers In Need

Issa M. Mas — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 14:59:14 +0000

Many single mothers work very hard to support their families but at the same time live in poverty. Single parenting is very stressful and single mothers hardly have the time to socialize. Many women who were otherwise strong, find themselves struggling to make ends meet and to sufficiently provide for their child(ren) and therefore no longer feel in control of their lives.

In addition to working outside the home to provide for their children, single mothers are forced to juggle all of the responsibilities – making breakfast, getting the kids off to school or daycare, picking up the kids from school, getting to doctor appointments, organizing play dates – and the list goes on.

La Bella Baskets, an online retailer of unique gift baskets, is working to support struggling single mothers through their new program, Baskets of Hope.

Women Serve Women at Doula Foundation

Issa M. Mas — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 09:58:57 +0000

Doula Foundation helps expectant mothers carry their babies full term.

Juliana Goodwin • News-Leader • August 22, 2010

Heather Widener found a friend in the Doula Foundation of Mid-America. When she was referred to the nonprofit, she was pregnant, stressed and sleeping in her car or crashing on friends’ couches.

Through the organization, she gained confidence, was linked to resources in the community, found a support network, took prenatal yoga classes and had a doula present at the birth of her son — all at no cost.

“If I had to pay, there’s no way,” says Widener.

The foundation does more than promote doulas –who help women during labor and after childbirth. It partners with WIC and offers a variety of free classes for income-eligible moms. Last year, 69 percent of the women served were single moms.

Thomas Claiborne Dream Reality

Issa M. Mas — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 08:40:03 +0000

BC lineman becomes a self-made success

By Lenny Megliola
Sunday, August 22, 2010 – Updated 2 weeks ago

The single mother’s quest was to get her son to a better place. The sooner, the better. Get him out of the Boston neighborhoods, and into a safer environment, with a chance at a good education. So then-fourth-grader Thomas Claiborne began rising at 5 a.m. to catch the bus that would take the Metco student to his new world.

Single Mom Becomes Successful Momtrepreneur

Issa M. Mas — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 07:24:12 +0000

Rule-breaking Tips for Momtrepreneurs

By Julie Knight

Our parenting columnist interviews successful inventor and ‘momtrepreneur’ Julia Rhodes:

All moms have frustrations, especially single moms. If each of us could come up with a product to solve just one of those frustrations, we’d all be successful business women like my friend Julia Rhodes.

In 2001, Julia Rhodes was a single mom just getting by on her teacher’s salary.

Federal Job Funding Opens Doors for Single Mothers

Issa M. Mas — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 13:04:04 +0000

By Sharon Johnson WeNews senior correspondent

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

The federal funding program for job creation has given states various ways to help workers hurt by the recession. Florida created jobs for low-income parents, many of them young single mothers. Mississippi gave preference to employers with small payrolls.

(WOMENSENEWS)–The $5 billion in emergency jobs funding that Congress approved in 2008 to help low-income people weather the recession has been spent by states in various ways.

Back to School: A Complete Checklist for Parents

Issa M. Mas — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 18:10:28 +0000

Get Help to Get Back to Into the Swing of Things

By SUZAN CLARKE

Aug. 16, 2010

One of the hardest things about going back to school is getting back into the swing of things.

It’s hard for children and parents, who have had months away from the rigidly scheduled days of classes, homework, sports practice and other extracurricular activities.

“Good Morning America” parenting expert Ann Pleshette Murphy sent us the following tips for getting back into the groove.

Here are her tips — in her own words.

Single Mothers Outreach Announces Celebration Of Women And The Arts

Issa M. Mas — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 02:17:12 +0000

The first ever Empowering HeARTS, Women Who Empower Women event will be held at the Dianne G. Van Hook University Center on Saturday, November 13, 2010. The event will highlight women in the community who exemplify courage and strength and who have contributed to the lives of others. The featured women will be chosen by local non-profit organizations.